Three Spigners bowl this week at Hawthorn
History has a way of repeating itself. In this case, the cycle seems to run about every 30 years.
Hall of Fame bowler Bill Spigner, 58, will bowl alongside his sons Robby (26) and Jimmy (20) this week at Hawthorn Lanes in Vernon Hills, making it the second time a father and two sons have competed in a Professional Bowling Association tournament.
Action in the PBA CLR Windy City Classic starts today at Hawthorn and concludes Sunday.
The late Dick Weber rolled with two of his sons, Rich and John, in the late 1970s, before Pete Weber joined the professional ranks.
All three of them actually finished in the money in the Brunswick Memorial World Open Tournament.
"It's my goal to beat my two boys," Bill Spigner said. "I'd like to see all of us making the cut. It would be special if we could do it."
Robby Spigner had a great run as an amateur five years ago and missed reaching the TV finals by a single game at Hawthorn. Jimmy Spigner will be making his first appearance in a PBA event.
Some of the hottest bowlers entering the week are Walter Ray Williams Jr. (Ocala, Fla.), Patrick Allen (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), Sean Rash (Wichita, Kan.), Mike DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.) and Chris Barnes (Double Oak, Texas).
Last year's champion, Wes Malott (Argyle, Texas), was the runner-up in the Lake County Classic in Indiana last weekend.
"Right now, I'm in a pretty good stretch and feeling pretty good," Malott said. "Once you get the itch of being out there, you want to be out there again.
"I've never defended a title before. It should give me more drive and do a lot better."
Others to watch out for are past winners Jason Couch (Clermont, Fla.), Brian Himmler (Cincinnati), and Danny Wiseman (Baltimore), along with the charismatic Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) and left-handed Billy Oatman (Chicago).
Bowling begins today at 10 a.m. with a seven-game tournament qualifying round for those trying to get into the exempt field of 64.
On Thursday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., the 64 remaining will bowl a pair of seven-game blocks and the field will be cut to the top 32.
They'll return Friday at 11 a.m. for nine games of match play. Then, the top remaining 16 roll nine more games of match play at 6 p.m., and the top five advance to Sunday's finals (noon, ESPN), where the winner will earn $25,000.
There will be pro-am events today at 7 p.m. at Hawthorn Lanes, Saturday at 4 and 7 p.m. at Hawthorn, and Saturday at noon at Fox Bowl in Downers Grove.
To get tickets for the event or to bowl in the pro-am, go to PBA.com or contact Hawthorn Lanes at (847) 367-1600.